Buzberry

With all what’s happening in Egypt, do you think the current President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak should resign? Will the situation get better if he resigns?

Apparently, what’s happening in Egypt has a negative impact on other countries in the region. Yesterday we witnessed a huge drop in the Saudi stock market and now the Kuwaiti stock exchange had just opened with the weighted index almost 15 points down..

Would love to hear your thoughts..

FAH

I am not sure if you’ll agree with me on this, but I came to a conclusion lately that everybody here tends to know almost everything. What I mean by everything is that everybody seems capable of talking about any topic. The same person can talk and analyze what’s going on in politics, business, sports, environment, etc. and this is not only the average person on the street that does it, even people on TV. One day he is interviewed as a financial analyst, the day after he’s at a political rally commenting as a political consultant!  

Do we really know everything?! I mean when it comes to cars, they can talk about the engine and the exhaust system in details. When it comes to sports, they know all the tactics. When it comes to the Dow petrochemical deal, they know everything about it. When it comes to “nabeeha khams” (campaign for re-distribution of the electoral districts in Kuwait from 25 to 5) we all wanted it ”nabeeha khams” because that’s going to solve everything. Of course now everybody wants Kuwait to be one electoral district.

Do we really know everything?

FAH

Of course, I hope they are not needed, but just incase something happens Special Forces seem to be ready to interfere.

UPDATED the photos

Thanks for the photos SRK

FAH

We are not here to speculate whether the National Assembly will be dissolved or not, after all it isn’t my call, nor it is FAH’s, or yours. We’re not even going to waste time and take sides even though we might agree a bit with one party or the other.

Over the past couple of weeks many events (including the aftermath-s-) happened in Kuwait and outside Kuwait which has left many of us disgusted. I don’t know if that was the end or not, but I am feeling that I’m alone out there. Whether you think what happened was overrated or not is your call. I would like to know your point of view, and above all whether I’m alone out there or not!

The truth is always underrated.. or overrated.

Alvaro

Standing about 2,000 feet high in the skies of Holy Mecca, shines the $800 million largest clock in the world – 5 times the size of Big Ben). Many of you already know about it if not recently been there. The tower which boasts “Allah the Greatest” on the top had cost the Saudi’s $3 billion to build and will have the largest floor area structure with 1.5 million sq meters (271 American Football fields).

Now although $800 million (clock only) is popcorn compared to Saudi, many people have argued that it could have been spent somewhere else to benefit Muslims, especially the needy, and precisely in Mecca. What do You think?

Alvaro

I was reading the papers, as I rarely do, and stumbled on an article about Kuwait’s ambassador in Germany, Dr. Musaad Al-Haroun. He has now been assigned to be Kuwait’s ambassador in Latvia. I asked a friend/insider to understand the reason for this demotion, seeing that winter is approaching and Latvia is farther north on the Baltic Sea, only to find out that he will still be serving in Germany. Naturally, the first question that popped in my head was “Are they even neighbors?” It’s almost a 17 hour drive, one way, with 2 countries in between! It is like having a Germany’s ambassador to Kuwait be the ambassador to Oman simultaneously. Being a Kuwait’s ambassador in Germany is a full time job, considering all the Kuwaiti tourists, businessmen/women, and patients (3ilaj bil 5arij). Come on MOFA get your act together.

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The only similar situation I have heard of is Nissan and Renault’s President and CEO Carlos Ghosn, who is running to multinationals in Japan, and France. Could Dr. Musaad Al-Haroun be our Carlos Ghosn? Only time will tell.

SNi

I liked one of the comments on Frankom’s post, which said that this is the end of private TV stations in Kuwait. Truly there are some channels/programs in Kuwait which act like corruption agents, while others produce classy outputs in  journalism and media. Yes freedom of speech is guaranteed, but moderation is always a virtue. However, we always say in Kuwait that every action has a reaction. Who was right, and who was at fault? Put yourselves in their shoes and view the incidents which occurred at Scope TV in past 2 days.

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody.  – Mark Twain

Mathematics says that the events cancel out each other. Photos here.

Alvaro

Kuwait indeed lost an excellent journalist, a bright mind, and a shining example of what Kuwait is about. Mohammad Musaad Al Saleh, a Kuwaiti writer that started writing on regular basis in 1961 on Al Hadaf magazine and ended on his famous column “Allah Bil Khair” on Al Qabas newspaper.

We would like to convey our heartfelt condolensces to the family of our Uncle Abu Talal on his sudden passing away. May this sharing of their sorrow help them overcome their/our loss. May he rest in peace.

Buzberry Team

We are not holding a campaign against Al Watan TV, but I agreed with FAH to post both topics together since they’re related.

I got a phone call last week from a friend, telling me that Al Watan TV owners/script writers/producers have their eyes on Proud to be Kuwaiti (P2bk) owner (Dhari Al Wazzan) and are planning to hit him hard through their blockbuster TV show: Bu Nabeel & Bu Qatadah. Then comes the 13th day of Ramadan, and the 13th episode (watch it here if you missed it).

It does not require a genius to find out that the whole episode was directed towards P2Bk and it’s “founder”. True, many of us (and I am one of them) have stated in the past (through a post click here to read it) that most of the local exhibitions in Kuwait are just hideous and are anything but Kuwaiti. However, the producers of the above mentioned show decided it was not only okay to name out one of the exhibitions (which happens to be the most successful one) but also call the owner a thief. Give me a break!

People don’t care if the owner is losing or making millions from P2Bk. After all, thousands are showing up every year to that event and many people are percieved as pinchers in Kuwait!

Note: I’m not fond of nor a friend of P2Bk’s owner.

Stick around to see what I think is happening.

Who owns 52degrees? and What is 52 degrees? I have no idea who the shareholders exactly are, but I’m pretty sure that some of the directors work at Al Watan, and i’m pretty sure that 52 Degrees has the blessings of Al Watan TV and Newspapers.

In plain English, 52 Degrees is an upscale P2Bk event which is held everyday, instead of once every year. By everyday I mean: It’s a department store-like place (if I’m correct) with retailers/entrepenuers being local, small, home, Kuwaiti, call it whatever you want businesses. “52 Degrees is an original melting pot for the limitless imagination and creativity of the Kuwaiti entrepreneur. The first of its kind concept store mothering the top notch Kuwaiti talents under one roof” … as the owners describe it. So they decide to smash P2BK, make fun of the business and the participants, then create in the background the same business line.

What world do we live in?

Alvaro and all the frustrated people in the world!

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Disclaimer

This post was not written to defend p2bk as I clearly stated that I am definaelty NOT a fan of the event, nor the organizers. The post was not constructed to point fingers, and is not trying to claim that what was aired on TV is a lie; in fact we are not here to say whether fraud exists. The general theme is very clear I beleive: Scandal / “look who is talking” (which does not cancel out any truth about p2bk nor al watan and only the people behind the episode).

Just incase you haven’t noticed, we have added the Fajer & Maghreb prayer times on the side bar. The prayer times will be updated on daily basis. Hope you liked them.

Special thanks to M.O.

Buzberry Team

In the past few weeks I’ve been trying to listen to Mix FM 98.4 but just can’t do it; it’s against my religion. It has turned to an “anasheed” station. I used to love listening to it because as the name suggested it was a mix of both English and Arabic music of all genres (sans “anasheed”). It played great music most of the time as it was edging closer towards its sister station Marina FM 88.8, the radio equivalent to Reality TV.

My biggest beef with this whole shenanigan is that they play “anasheed,” which I must say is plagiarizing old musical styles. I have classified this music into three types:

• A Cappella: sounds like Christmas carols no instruments.

• Doo Wop: African-American music made popular in the 50s. Someone sings and a group fills the background with vocal harmonies

• Calypso: Afro-Carribian music. The use of bongos and drums as the rhythm and the voices of the singer

If people are so against music and want a religious experience, they should stop their fakeness, and listen to the Quran Channel 98.9. They have great shows (the craziest people call in) and great Quran readers.

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On a side note, I was hearing on the radio that in Turkey some aspiring imams are kicked out of “imam” school because their voices are not good enough. Apparently, you have to sing in order to be an imam. Being an imam requires certain skills of which a good musical voice is none of them such as:

• Good command of the Quran

• Knowledge of how to read and pronounce the scripture of the Quran.

• Good composure, so as not to get nervous and forget important steps/words.

• Ability to focus and concentrate (Khoshoo’).

• Loud voice, but this has become obsolete after the introduction of the mic.

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SNi